By Sean Clasby
This day in the world of collegiate athletics funding is everything. For some teams the fate of their season depends on it. At Quinnipiac however, there is group of young men proving all a team really needs is commitment, chemistry and a place to play.
New Blue Rugby is a rugby club comprised of only current Quinnipiac students. The club is not affiliated the university. Therefore, the team does not receive any of the benefits that come with being a Quinnipiac sports team. For New Blue everything “comes out of pocket”.
The team is responsible for driving themselves to games and practices.
“We have a bunch of guys willing to give the carpool. We drive all of the freshmen and sophomores who don’t have cars. And somehow it works out for us,” said Junior PJ Ruttura.
Moreover, they have to pay for their own game uniforms and rugby balls. They do not have a full time coach or coaching staff meaning they rely on each other to learn the nuances of the game.
The commitment and reliance on one another has created a brotherhood amongst the players. Most of the players credit the bonds and friendships they have formed with one another as their main source of information. Essentially, they are playing for each other.
New Blue Rugby kicks off their season on September 21, 214 with their tenth annual alumni game. The team will host Worcester Polytechnic Institute at the Hamden Town Center Park.
